Changes: Cyrene

Revision as of 14:42, 12 June 2020

This article is about the city in Cyrenaica. You may be looking for the goddess the city was named after.

Cyrene was an ancient Greek city stationed in present-day Libya, situated in a lush valley in the Green Mountains. It was the oldest and most important of the five Greek cities in the region.

The city was named after a spring, Kyre, which the Greeks consecrated to Apollo and was also the seat of the Cyrenaics, a famous school of philosophy in the 4th century BCE, founded by Aristippus, a disciple of Sokrates; it was then nicknamed the "Athens of Africa". Cyrene became part of the Ptolemaic Kingdom controlled from Alexandria during the 3rd century BCE, before becoming Roman territory in 96 BCE when the Ptolemies bequeathed Cyrenaica to Rome.

During the 1st century BCE, Cyrene was home to one of the gladiator arenas in Ptolemaic Egypt, the other located in Krokodilopolis.

History

Founding

The city's origin traced back to Battos I, a Theran who sought out the Pythia at the Sanctuary of Delphi in the 7th century BCE. The Pythia gave him a prophecy and ordered him to find and establish a city in North Africa.^[1] Battos did so and led a group of residents from Thera to Libya, thus founding the city of Cyrene and its colony of Cyrenaica in 630 BCE. The population steadily increasing, eventually making it the first and largest of the five colonial cities in the region.^[2] Battos served as its king until his death in 600 BCE. During the first two centuries of the city's lifespan, a series of kings reigned over it. But rebellion eventually ended the monarchy and afterward the city was ruled by the aristocracy.^[1] However a tomb was later erected in the city to serve as his resting place.

Roman period

Under Roman influence, the city became an economic powerhouse and rose in status throughout the Mediterranean. Cyrene had a medicinal school established in the city, it rivaled all other Greek institutes bar the school of Kos, Greece. The city spawned several influential mathematicians, astronomers, and geographers, those that weren't born in the city established schools in it. Aristippos, a pupil of Sokrates, founded a philosophy institute there.^[3]

The Romans also built many temples in the city dedicated to their own gods, including Zeus, Apollo, and Cyrene. Many fountains were also erected to honor the gods, including Cyrene, the city's namesake.^[4]

File:Origins Quest22TheFinalWeighing Part11.PNG

Bayek meeting with Diocles in Cyrene

Since at least 49 BCE, the city was governed by Flavius Metellus, a leader of the Order of the Ancients. In 47 BCE, the Medjay Bayek of Siwa arrived in Cyrene in order to hunt down Flavius, who obtained an Apple of Eden. Upon arriving in the city, Bayek met with Diocles, a friend of the Greek healer Praxilla whom Bayek had met in a farm south of Cyrene. Diocles directed Bayek to the Roman Akropolis, a fortification wherein Flavius resided. Bayek infiltrated the fort and confronted the Roman, killing him and retrieving the Apple of Eden from him.^[5]

After Flavius' defeat, Bayek met with Diocles in the Agora, where he was informed of a corrupt magistrate Leander who worked with Flavius. Diocles sent Bayek to locate his friend Simonides, who previously attended an event at Leander's villa but had not yet return, liking drinking at a tavern in the city.^[6]

Decline

From 115 to 117 CE, a revolt in the Jewish quarter greatly damaged the city of Cyrene, the city was not rebuilt for some years. Over time, multiple continuous battles, poor management of its silphium crop and earthquakes took their toll on the city. By 365 BCE, the city had been completely abandoned.^[7]

Economy

Cyrene's cultivation and export of poppies and silphium made the city prosper. Opium oil was also harvested from the poppies.^[8] the silphium flower was considered a gift from the gods, with the extracted material selling at high prices and greatly increasing Cyrenaica's overall wealth.^[9] However, increased demand, over-exploitation and changes in climate eventually led to the total extinction of the flower.^[10]

Behind the scenes

Cyrene is depicted in Assassin's Creed: Origins to be much closer to Alexandria than it was in reality. It was actually located almost 500 miles west, near the modern-day village of Shahhat in Libya.

The Roman soldiers depicted in the various artworks wear anachronistic equipment typical for the mid 1st century CE.

The gatehouses of the city walls look more like triumphal arches rather than proper gatehouses.

Gallery

Appearances

Assassin's Creed: Origins

References

[Cyrene-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt – The Founding of Cyrene: "Cyrene"

[2] >Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt – The Founding of Cyrene: "Cyrenaica"

[3] Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt – The Founding of Cyrene: "An Economic Powerhouse"

[4] Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt – Important Monuments of Cyrene: "Temples & Statues"

[The_Final_Weighing-5] Assassin's Creed: Origins – The Final Weighing

[6] Assassin's Creed: Origins – Absolute Power

[7] Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt – The Founding of Cyrene: "The Fall of Cyrene"

[8] Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt – Major Exports of Cyrene: "Silphium & Poppy"

[9] Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt – Major Exports of Cyrene: "The Yellow Flower"

[10] Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt – Major Exports of Cyrene: "Extinction"

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Era|ACO}}
+{{Era|Locations}}
 {{WP-REAL|Cyrene, Libya}}
+{{Youmay|the city in Cyrenaica|the [[Cyrene (mythology)|goddess]] the city was named after}}
-{{Spoilerhd}}
-{{Stub}}
 {{Location_Infobox
 |name = Cyrene
-|image = ACO Cyrene.jpg
+|image = ACO screen Cyrene Flyby Previews.jpg
-|state = Egypt {{C|6th century BCE - 96 BCE}}
+|state = [[Greece]] {{C|6th century BCE – 96 BCE}}<br>[[Rome]] {{C|96 BCE – collapse}}
-Rome {{C|96 BCE - collapse}}
+|rulers = [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]] {{C|305 BCE – 96 BCE}}<br>[[Roman Republic]] {{C|96 BCE – collapse}}
+|factions = [[Hidden Ones]]<br>[[Order of the Ancients]]
-|rulers = [[Ptolemaic dynasty|Ptolemaic Kingdom]] {{C|305 BCE–96 BCE}}
+|founded = Colonists from [[Thera]] led by [[Battos Aristottle|Battos I]]
-[[Roman Empire]] {{C|96 BCE - collapse}}
-|factions = [[Assassins]]
-*[[Hidden Ones]]
-[[Templars]]
-*[[Order of the Ancients]]
-|founded = Colonists from Thera led by Battus I
 |date = 630 BCE
-|abandoned = 4th century AD
+|abandoned = 365 CE
+|landmark = [[Agora of Cyrene]]<br>[[Temple of Zeus, Cyrene|Temple of Zeus]]<br>[[Apollonion of Cyrene|Apollonion]]<br>[[Cyrene Gladiator Arena]]
-|targets = [[Flavius Metellus]]<br>[[Leander]]}}
+|targets = [[Flavius Metellus]]<br>[[Leander (Cyrenean)|Leander]]
-'''Cyrene''' was an ancient [[Greece|Greek]] city stationed in present-day [[Libya]], situated in a lush valley in the {{Wiki|Jebel Akhdar, Libya|Jebel Akhdar}} uplands. It was the oldest and most important of the five Greek cities in the region.
+}}
+'''Cyrene''' was an ancient [[Greece|Greek]] city stationed in present-day [[Libya]], situated in a lush valley in the [[Green Mountains]]. It was the oldest and most important of the five Greek cities in the region.
-The city was named after a spring, Kyre, which the Greeks consecrated to Apollo and was also the seat of the Cyrenaics, a famous school of philosophy in 4th century BCE, founded by {{Wiki|Aristippus|Aristippus}}, a disciple of {{Wiki|Socrates}}; it was then nicknamed the "[[Athens]] of [[Africa]]". Cyrene became part of the [[Egypt|Ptolemaic Kingdom]] controlled from [[Alexandria]] during the 3rd century BCE, before becoming [[Roman Republic|Roman]] territory in 96 BCE when the Ptolemies bequeathed Cyrenaica to [[Rome]].
+The city was named after a spring, Kyre, which the Greeks consecrated to [[Apollo]] and was also the seat of the Cyrenaics, a famous school of philosophy in the 4th century BCE, founded by {{Wiki|Aristippus|Aristippus}}, a disciple of [[Sokrates]]; it was then nicknamed the "[[Athens]] of [[Africa]]". Cyrene became part of the [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]] controlled from [[Alexandria]] during the 3rd century BCE, before becoming [[Roman Republic|Roman]] territory in 96 BCE when the Ptolemies bequeathed Cyrenaica to [[Rome]].
 During the 1st century BCE, Cyrene was home to one of the [[Cyrene Gladiator Arena|gladiator arenas]] in Ptolemaic Egypt, the other located in [[Krokodilopolis]].
 ==History==
+===Founding===
-In 47 BCE, the [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] pursued the Roman proconsul and [[Order of the Ancients]] member [[Flavius Metellus]] to the Temple of Zeus in Cyrene, killing him and retrieving the [[Apples of Eden|Apple of Eden]] from him.
+The city's origin traced back to [[Battus Aristottle|Battos I]], a [[Thera]]n who sought out the [[Pythia]] at the [[Sanctuary of Delphi]] in the 7th century BCE. The Pythia gave him a prophecy and ordered him to find and establish a city in [[Libya|North Africa]].<ref name="Cyrene">''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt#The Founding of Cyrene|The Founding of Cyrene: "Cyrene"]]</ref> Battos did so and led a group of residents from Thera to Libya, thus founding the city of Cyrene and its colony of [[Cyrenaica]] in 630 BCE. The population steadily increasing, eventually making it the first and largest of the five colonial cities in the region.<ref>>''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt#The Founding of Cyrene|The Founding of Cyrene: "Cyrenaica"]]</ref> Battos served as its king until his death in 600 BCE. During the first two centuries of the city's lifespan, a series of kings reigned over it. But [[Kitos War|rebellion]] eventually ended the monarchy and afterward the city was ruled by the aristocracy.<ref name="Cyrene" /> However a [[Tomb of Battos|tomb]] was later erected in the city to serve as his resting place.
+===Roman period===
+Under [[Roman Republic|Roman]] influence, the city became an economic powerhouse and rose in status throughout the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]]. Cyrene had a medicinal school established in the city, it rivaled all other Greek institutes bar the school of [[Kos]], [[Greece]]. The city spawned several influential mathematicians, astronomers, and geographers, those that weren't born in the city established schools in it. [[Aristippos]], a pupil of [[Sokrates]], founded a philosophy institute there.<ref>''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt#The Founding of Cyrene|The Founding of Cyrene: "An Economic Powerhouse"]]</ref>
+The Romans also built many temples in the city dedicated to their own gods, including [[Temple of Zeus, Cyrene|Zeus]], [[Apollonion of Cyrene|Apollo]], and [[Cyrene (mythology)|Cyrene]]. Many fountains were also erected to honor the gods, including Cyrene, the city's namesake.<ref>''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt#Important Monuments of Cyrene|Important Monuments of Cyrene: "Temples & Statues"]]</ref>
+[[File:Origins Quest22TheFinalWeighing Part11.PNG|thumb|250px|Bayek meeting with Diocles in Cyrene]]
+Since at least 49 BCE, the city was governed by [[Flavius Metellus]], a leader of the [[Order of the Ancients]]. In 47 BCE, the [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]] arrived in Cyrene in order to hunt down Flavius, who obtained an [[Apple of Eden 2|Apple of Eden]]. Upon arriving in the city, Bayek met with [[Diocles]], a friend of the Greek healer [[Praxilla (Cyrenean)|Praxilla]] whom Bayek had met in a farm south of Cyrene. Diocles directed Bayek to the [[Roman Akropolis]], a fortification wherein Flavius resided. Bayek infiltrated the fort and confronted the Roman, killing him and retrieving the Apple of Eden from him.<ref name="The Final Weighing">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' – [[The Final Weighing]]</ref>
+After Flavius' defeat, Bayek met with Diocles in the [[Agora of Cyrene|Agora]], where he was informed of a corrupt magistrate [[Leander (Cyrenean)|Leander]] who worked with Flavius. Diocles sent Bayek to locate his friend [[Simonides]], who previously attended an event at Leander's [[Leander's Villa|villa]] but had not yet return, liking drinking at a tavern in the city.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' – [[Absolute Power]]</ref>
+===Decline===
+From 115 to 117 CE, a [[Kitos War|revolt]] in the Jewish quarter greatly damaged the city of Cyrene, the city was not rebuilt for some years. Over time, multiple continuous battles, poor management of its [[silphium]] crop and earthquakes took their toll on the city. By 365 BCE, the city had been completely abandoned.<ref>''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt#The Founding of Cyrene|The Founding of Cyrene: "The Fall of Cyrene"]]</ref>
+==Economy==
+Cyrene's cultivation and export of [[Poppy|poppies]] and [[silphium]] made the city prosper. Opium oil was also harvested from the poppies.<ref>''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt#Major Exports of Cyrene|Major Exports of Cyrene: "Silphium & Poppy"]]</ref> the silphium flower was considered a gift from the gods, with the extracted material selling at high prices and greatly increasing [[Cyrenaica]]'s overall wealth.<ref>''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt#Major Exports of Cyrene|Major Exports of Cyrene: "The Yellow Flower"]]</ref> However, increased demand, over-exploitation and changes in climate eventually led to the total extinction of the flower.<ref>''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt#Major Exports of Cyrene|Major Exports of Cyrene: "Extinction"]]</ref>
+==Behind the scenes==
+Cyrene is depicted in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' to be much closer to Alexandria than it was in reality. It was actually located almost 500 miles west, near the modern-day village of Shahhat in Libya.
+The Roman soldiers depicted in the various artworks wear anachronistic equipment typical for the mid 1st century CE.
+The gatehouses of the city walls look more like triumphal arches rather than proper gatehouses.
 ==Gallery==
 <gallery position="center" captionalign="center">
+ACO Cyrene Hieroglyph.PNG|Cyrene Hieroglyph
 ACO Cyrene Agora District Concept Art by Eddie Bennun.jpg|Concept Art Cyrene's Agora district
 ACO Cyrene Gates Dawn Concept Art.jpg|Concept Art of Cyrene's gates at dawn
@@ Line 35: / Line 56: @@
 ACO Cyrene Gates Concept Art.jpg|Concept Art of Cyrene's gates
 ACO Cyrene Rich District Concept Art.jpg|Concept Art of Cyrene's Rich district
+ACO Cyrene.jpg|Cyrene as seen from the [[Oracle of Apollo]]
+ACO Temple of Zeus.jpg|The Temple of Zeus
 </gallery>
-==Trivia==
-*Cyrene is depicted in the game to be much closer to Alexandria than it was in reality. It was actually located almost 500 miles west, near the modern-day village of Shahhat in Libya.
-==Appearance==
+==Appearances==
 *''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''
 ==References==
+{{Reflist}}
-*''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''
 {{ACO}}
 [[Category:Cities in Libya]]
 [[Category:Cities in Ancient Rome]]
+[[Category:Locations in Kyrenaika]]
+[[Category:Port cities]]
+[[Category:Former Greek colonies]]
+[[Category:Poleis]]